Wire-reel.



M. W. WATKINS.

WIRE REEL.

MPLICATION HLED FEB- 8. 1915.

l 156,569 Patented Oct. 12, 1915,

MILTON "W". 'KUACEKINS, OF DE KALB, ILLINOIS.

WIRE-REEL.

Wanna menace.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 12, ans.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MILTON W. lVA'inIii s,

a citizen of the United States, residing at De Kalb, in the county of Deltalb and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Wire-Reels, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a. reel upon which is wound barb or other wire for the purpose of packaging and transporting the same.

The objects of the invention are to provide a reel which is of a collapsible nature whereby it is easier handled in the factory.

A further object to provide a reel which is materially lighter in weight than the wooden reel, and will be materially cheaper of manu'hicture, and materially stronger.

A further object of the invention is to configure the pa ts which comprise the reel in a manner whereby locking means are provided by the configuration of the parts themselves eliminating the necessity for employing-separate or independent locking means for holding the parts of the reel together.

A further object of the invention is to form the reel whereby it is cheap and simple of construction and when in set up form will constitute a strong and durable carrying member for the wire.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the ends of the reel as to receive the squared end of the wind up shaft of the wire machine, and by employing these ends together with a supporting block eliminates the necessity of using a form when the wire is being placed on the reel.

T he invention further consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the reel of the present invention; 2 is a view of the central portion of one end of the reel; Fif 8 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2; Fig. it a section on line 4 l; of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; and Fig. 5 a plan view of the center piece in collapsed condition.

As stated, the reel of the present invention relates to one which is adapted and intended for use in connection with the packaging and shipping of barb or other wire. l n the reeling of wire, it is quite important from the stainlpoint of operating expenses. that the reel be of such a nature that it can be made cheaply, will be strong. of lasting quality and light weight. Naturally under such conditions it is highly desi'able that the reel be constructed of a material which is of a lasting nature and that the parts thereof be so arranged and constructed as torender the reel strong and cheap.

Referring" now to the drawings, the reel may be said to consist of a center piece des i gnated in its entirety by the numeral 5, and of end pieces designated in their entirety by the numerals 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Referring now to the center piece 5, this consists of two frames 10 and 11. Each frame consisting of an upper rail 12 and a lower rail 13, although the terms upper and lower it is understood are used merely for descriptive purposes. These frames, as will be seen, are substantially rectangular in forn'iation. Both of the frames are provided at each corner with an outwardly extending bend l i and the frames continue on from the bends to form connecting rails 15. Each of the frames 10 and 11, therefore, may be said to consist of top, bottom and connect ing rails, with an outwardly eXtending bend at each corner of the frame. The frames '10 and 11 are exactly alike in configuration, and the foregoing description is understood to apply LO both these frames.

The connecting rails 15 have attached thereto metal. plates 16, the ends of which are wrapped around the rails 15, as will be seen from Figs. 2 and 4t. lVhen the center piece 5 is in condition to receive the end pieces 6, 7, 8, and 9 it is of substantially rectangular fornnition, as will be seen from Fig. 1. but when the reel is collapsed or knocked down, the end pieces are removed, and the center piece folded up, so that the frames 10 and 11 are folded into relation with one another as shown in 5. To enable the folding of the center piece the plates 16 are allowed a turning movement with reference to the rails 15. When the center piece is in use it is extended out into the substantial rectangular formation shown in Fig. 1.

The end pieces (3. 7, 8 and 9 are each alike in formation and arrangei'nent and are formed at each e-ndwith a loop 17 and are formed at approximately the central portion with an outward bend or curvatin-e 1S. 'lhese end pieces, and in fact the entire structure. are forn'ied of spring wire of the necessary gage to give to the device the dcgrcc of tensile strength required. and all 'the center piece,

sprung there is produced a complete reel,

ends of wire used in making the various parts of the reel are joined together'by a welding operation. These end pieces are sprung or forced into place at the ends at and. when so forced or locked together to prevent a separation of the'parts thereof during use, and locked together in a manner which eliminates the employment of any separable locking means for keying or otherwise securing together the parts comprising the reel structure. In placing these end piecesin position the outer end piece, designated bythe numeral 19, is first inserted and this, asgshown in Fig. 1, is drawn up into place so that it is resting at the terminus of the bends 14-, as will be seen from Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The enlarged portion 18 of this end piece will, as appears froniF ig. 1, lie in between the-bends of the rails of the center' piece, thus preventing accidental displacement of this end piece by a lateral or longitudinal movement. After the insertion of this outer end piece has been accomplished, the inner end piece, designated by the numeral 20, is slid into place and the end piece 20 extends crosswise of the outer end piece 19. When the end piece 20 is forced into position it will underlie the outer end piece 19, so as to prevent displacement of this piece bydownward movement and the inner 'end piece will be held against accidental lateral displacement, by the springing of the enlarged portions 18 into position between the bends of the rails of the center piece, as will be apparent from the drawings. The inner end piece will rest, when placed in position, against the connecting rails 15 of the frames 10 and 11, as will be seen from Fig. .2. The inner end piece, therefore, is held against lateral movement by the enlargement 18, is held against upward movement by the outer end piece-'19, and is .held against downward movement by engagement with the side rails 15. The outer rail is held against lateral {HOVATlGIlil by the enlargement 18, is held against upward movement by the bends 14, and'is held against downward movement by the inner end piece 20, so that we thus have an endv sectionplaced on the reel which is held against separation and displacement. Each end of the reel is formed of similar parts andassembled in 'a similar manner,

so that when fully assembled a complete rigid and self-sustaining reel is produced.

In order to strengthen the wires 12 and 13 of the sections 10 and 11 of the center piece, so that said wires will not bend under the weight of the barb or other Wire placed thereon, a supporting block 21 is provided, which acts as an intermediate cross brace for said center piece. As will be seen from the drawings, each of the plates 16 is formed with a square hole 22 and the block 21 with 1,15e,5ee

a hole 23. The square shaft of the takeup mechanism of the wire machine, is inserted through the holes 22 and 23 and the reel is thereby revolved in accordance with the action. of such shaft, thus eliminating the necessity of placing a supplemental form within the reel when the reel is applied to the Wire machine.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in the present invention the parts comprising the reel are locked together by the configuration of the parts forming the reel, and that no auxiliary locking devices are necessary, which would be undesirable because of the danger of their coming outof position and allowing the reel to collapse. It is further seen thatthe assembling and taking down of the reel is a simple operation which can be accomplished speedily.

It will be seen that the reel of the present invention is cheap, light, easy handled and strong, meeting all the requirements of a practical reel for the purpose intended. By leaving out the plates 16 and supporting block 21, the reel can be filled upon a form of the usual type.

I claim: a

1. A reel of the class described comprising a center piece, end pieces, plates arranged at having a polygonal opening therein, means.

for detachably connecting said 'end pieces to said; center piece, and an auxiliary crosswise extending supporting piece for the center piece, substantially as described.

3. A reel of the class described comprising a center piece substantially rectangular in outline, and formed with an outwardly extending bend at each corner, plates at each end of said center piece, each of said plates having a polygonal opening therein, end pieces, and means for detachably connecting said end pieces to said center piece, substan tia'lly as described.

4. A reel of the class described comprising a center piece. substantially rectangular in outline and formed With an outwardly extending bend at each corner, plates secured at each end of said center piece and lying to the inside of said bends, end pieces, one of said end pieces lying within the bends at that end of'the reel with which it is associated, and the other end piece lying between the first mentioned end piece and the plate at that end of the reel, substantially as described.

A reel of the class described comprising a center piece substantially rectangular in bend at each corner, plates secured to each end of said center piece and lying to the inside of said bends, end pieces, one of said end pieces lying within the loop at that end of the reel with which it is associated, the other end piece lying between the first men tioned end piece and the plate at that end of the reel, and both of said end pieces being outwardly bent to prevent longitudinal displacement thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a reel. of the class described, the. combination of a center piece formed with two companion tlraines joined together by metal plates, and end pieces adapted to be detachably secured to. said center piece, and said plates being located at the point of in tersection of said center and and pieces, substantially as described.

7. In a reel of the class described, the combination of a center piece formed with two companion frames joined together by metal plates, end pieces adapted to be detachably secured to said center piece, and said plates being located at the point of intersection of said center and end pieces, and a supple- "mental cross brace for said center piece,

substantially as described.

8, In a reel of the class described, the combination of two companion frames joined to gether by metal plates, said plates and. frames constituting a center piece-substan tially rectangular in outline, said frame being formed with an outwardly extending bend at each corner, an outer end piece inserted into the bends on that end of the frames with which it is associated, and an under end piece inserted between the upper end piece and'the metal plate at that end of the i' 'aine, substantially as described.

9.111 a reel. of the class described, the combination of two companion frames joined together by metal plates, said plates and frames constituting a center piece substantially rectangular in outline, said frames being formed to provide an outwardly extending bend at each corner, an outer end piece inserted in the bends on that end of the frames with which it is associated, an under end piece inserted between the upper end piece and the metal. plate at that end of the frame, and said end pieces being formed with outwardly extending bends to prevent their longitudinal displacement, substantially as described.

M. W. lVATKlNS.

Witnesses TM. P. Bonn, SAMUEL "W. Bassist 

